Wow! Another rare occurance of two chapters in as many days! This was a pretty interesting chapter for me to write. Something exciting is coming up for Lily and Karena, and Wilbur touches the time machine for the first time in a while. I also wrote some touching moments too. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" nor "TMNT." I only own Karena, Lilianna & Athena. I also do not own Nichole Nordeman's "Legacy" nor Christina Grimmie's "Liar Liar."


January 2, 2040 – Todayland, North Montana, USA

LILIANNA'S POV

One month has passed since Wilbur was discharged from the hospital. Despite his body being tired from fighting the wasps and then fighting the virus, he recovered quickly. Both my sensei and my dad took the portal to Todayland every other night to check up on him and care for him in whatever way was needed. When Wilbur was ready, Uncle Leo started training him in the art of ninjutsu, and Wilbur had started training on meditation. Meanwhile, Wilbur and I returned to school in Todayland and aced our final exams, and Karena also aced hers. Karena expressed her feelings to us, looking forward to attending one last semester at Todayland University before she would start her student teaching assignment next fall. She has continued to give my dad credit for motivating her to do well in her studies.

Then Christmas came, and it was different this year because Wilbur, Uncle Raph, and Uncle Mikey had missed out on Thanksgiving. The entire Hamato family was invited to spend Christmas Eve at with the Robinsons, where they continued their Thanksgiving traditions along with the exchange of Christmas presents. Everyone was either thankful for Wilbur coming home, my dad curing everyone of the virus, or for my family being present with them. I ended up winning the chargeball tournament this year, and it was the second year in a row that a Robinson did not win it. Wilbur ended up being teased on losing his touch, but he quickly reminded them that he had singlehandedly taken out every single wasp with his chargeball.

Christmas Day was spent at the lair in New York City, and my dad had invited Wilbur, Karena, Franny, and Cornelius to join them. The four of them witnessed our surprise party for Uncle Leo and Auntie Karai. They had celebrated 20 years of marriage that day, and Ryan was celebrated also, because he was born shortly after they celebrated their fifth anniversary. Wilbur was thoughtful and had given Ryan a present for his birthday that happened yesterday: the katana blade he had used in his adventures in Magma City in 2037.

New Year's Eve was nice and simple in the lair. With Wilbur and Karena present, we sparred in the dojo, ate pizza, drank root beer floats, and enjoyed watching all of the cartoon shows my dad and uncles love and hate. We watched Uncle Leo's favorite show called Space Heroes, and he and Ryan seemed to be the only ones who enjoyed the show. My dad's favorite show was next, called Super Mecha Robo Force Five, and it was well-liked by everyone. Wilbur had even admitted that it became a top favorite show of his. Then we watched Uncle Raph's favorite show: Crognard the Barbarian. Uncle Raph and Uncle Mikey were the top fans of this show, but we all groaned with disappointment at the finale. Lastly, we watched Uncle Mikey's favorite show that involved the late Chris Bradford. He was the only fan of the show.

Now it was the year 2040, the start of a new decade, and also the start of the aftermath of the parasitica epidemic in Todayland. I wrote in a new guided journal that Karena gave me for Christmas as I waited for Wilbur in the cafeteria. I looked up and I saw a fellow student put up a poster. When the student left, I felt intrigued and walked up to the poster to read it.

"Todayland University is hosting the first annual TALENT SHOW to help families who have lost someone or are recovering from the parasitica epidemic. Auditions will be held at Todayland High School for students of all ages. Sign up down below, and we look forward to seeing you audition your act on January 9th."

I smiled, knowing exactly what to do, and I wrote my name down on the sheet below the poster.

"I'm proud of you, Lily."

I jumped at the voice behind me. I turned around to see Wilbur towering over me with a smile on his face.

"Dude, you scared me!"

"I'm sorry," Wilbur replied with a chuckle. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You look nice."

I looked down at one of my newest outfits that I got from my mom for Christmas. I was wearing a pair of black pants with a long-sleeved yellow blouse.

"Thanks!"

"So, what's that?"

"I signed up to audition for the talent show!" I answered with a big smile.

I stepped aside so that Wilbur could read the poster. My gap-toothed grin stayed on my face when Wilbur wrote his name down.

"I'm impressed!"

"Yeah, I need something to look forward to other than tests," Wilbur replied with a grim look on his face. "I got the SAT and the ACT coming up this semester."

"Yuck! Good luck with those."

"Thanks! So, what would you do on the talent show?"

"I'd be singing a song," I answered with a shrug. "It's no big deal. I want to help these families in any way possible."

"I wonder if there are winners in this talent show," Wilbur pondered. "It'd be nice to have some competition."

"What would you be doing, Wilbur?" I asked.

"Maybe a comedy routine."

"You do comedy?" I asked, raising my red eyebrow.

"I've never done it before, but I wanna try it. Maybe Carl and Grandma Lucille can help me with it."

"Just make sure you have something done before next Monday. That's when auditions are taking place."

"You have to audition for it?" Wilbur asked. "Shoot, I missed that."

"Good luck."

"Yeah, you too."

Wilbur paused, putting a smile on his face.

"You know, I remember you singing to me one day, and I couldn't decide if you were better than Karena or not. I'm happy you're exploring that. Are you in chorus, by any chance?"

"No, I'm not. I prefer to sing for fun."

"Just watch. If Karena hears you sing and you sing just as well as she does, she may convince you to join the chorus here."

I laughed.

"We'll see about that!"

"So what song are you going to sing?" Wilbur asked.

"That is for you to find out," I answered with a wink.

"It's not going to be Supernatural, is it?"

I laughed so hard that I had to sit back down at my seat.

"No! Goodness, you're never going to let that image of me go, are you?"

"Nope!"

Wilbur glanced around before whispering in my ear.

"Especially because I saw you in your lingerie again when you were sick with the virus."

I let out a gasp of embarrassment and I blushed.

"I wore that?!" I whispered back. "Oh my gosh."

"Don't worry. I told your dad that I found you in that state and brought you to him covered in a towel. You were fully clothed when you recovered."

I blew a sigh of relief.

"Thank you."

We walked to the kitchen to grab our breakfast and get caught up with our lives once again.


January 3, 2040

WILBUR'S POV

"Hey, Carl."

I greeted my robot friend as I walked up the stairs in my dad's lab.

"Hey, little buddy!" Carl greeted me with a big smile. "What's up?"

"I need your help with something. Can you help me come up with a short comedy routine?"

"I believe you are talking about a skit, Wilbur," I heard Laszlo say behind one of my dad's inventions.

"Hello to you too, Laszlo," I replied with a smirk. "I take it you know comedy, too?"

"We're your best men!" Laszlo replied enthusiastically. "I'm the king of it!"

"Actually, the king of comedy is Grandpa with his clothes on backwards all the time. Anyway, I'm asking for you help because there's going to be a talent show to help the families who are struggling since the epidemic and I thought I'd give it my all with a comedy skit. I'm thinking only two minutes with the comedy skit this time."

"Well, the first thing you want to do is introduce yourself," Carl suggested.

"Well, that's easy," I replied with a hearty shrug.

"Comedians always have something to say about their personal lives," Laszlo explained. "Take us, for example. The media often sees us as the family of the famous Cornelius Robinson and they see us doing something normal every day. But you, Wilbur, you live with us. So maybe give your audience a glimpse of your life in the Robinson House."

"But don't talk as if you are the narrator of a story," Carl chimed in. "Share anything you are going to share from your point of view."

"So, let's start with your introduction."

"Okay."

I paused, pacing myself back and forth.

"Hello, everyone!" I said excitedly. "My name is Wilbur Robinson. Yes, I am the Wilbur Robinson, and I am Cornelius Robinson's son."

"Don't get too cocky, little buddy," Carl suggested.

"You were just a tad too excited," Laszlo explained. "And you only need to say your name one time. This isn't the cowbell skit. You're not a big-shot producer about to promote the Blue Oyster Cult. You are a high school student. Be humble in that. Relate to your audience that you are just as normal as they are."

"But we're not normal, Laszlo," I replied in confusion. "All of us do something weird."

"So use those as your jokes, Wilbur," Laszlo encouraged me. "Try your intro again."

I let out a sigh and I started to pace again.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Wilbur Robinson and I am a high school student. Yes, I am the son of Cornelius Robinson, who is known worldwide as the Father of the Future. I know you all often see news reports of what my dad is doing: what invention he is making next or any event that is happening that involves him. Pretty normal, boring stuff, right?"

I got a chuckle out of Laszlo and Carl.

"Keep going, Wilbur," Laszlo encouraged me.

"Well, I live with my dad, right? So I know him more than anybody. He was adopted by a scientist and a science teacher when he was just becoming a teenager, and the day he got adopted, his dad, my grandpa, had his head on backwards."

Laszlo laughed.

"No, I'm not kidding," I continued with some laughter. "My grandpa still puts his head on backwards today. And my grandma, who loves to bake cookies, feeds him both ways. And do you wanna know who else has a head that turns in all directions? My robot buddy, Carl. My dad invented him to help out around the house, and this robot can do anything! He can turn his head all around the world, he can solve complex equations, he can be an effective butler, and like my great-uncle Joe, he works out!"

I got a laugh out of Carl.

"My great-uncle Joe works out to stay in shape in his wheelchair, but you all should see my Uncle Art. He is so fit that he could very well be a superhero! And he is. Not all heroes wear capes, but once you deliver a pizza to the moon of Keward to avoid an interspatial conflict, you can do anything. And do you wanna know who else can do anything? My wonderful mother, Franny. She knows karate, she sings, she practices music with her merry band of genetically-enhanced frogs, and she even knows how to catapult the tiniest meatball back to my Uncle Gaston."

Laszlo tried to hold back his laughter.

"Uncle Gaston has a meatball cannon back home. In fact, he has meatball cannons galore. He even invented a meatball cannon to fit himself in it. And guess what he does with it? He uses that meatball cannon to race with the toy train my great-aunt Billie invented. My great-aunt Billie was a play therapist, and her fascination has always been with her toys. She loves them so much that she has invented larger-than-scale trains for many purposes. She'll race Uncle Gaston with it. She'll transport my family to our basement, and she assists our fellow citizens by taken them where they need to go in the city. Aunt Billie is a little girl at heart, and so is my cousin Tallulah. Tallulah's always loved wearing dresses and she owns her own dress shop downtown. She is very well known for her city-styled dresses, and she loves to wear her New York City dress. Life truly was bliss in the Big Apple for her and her brother Laszlo. Although, knowing Laszlo, he wears a helicopter hat. He could probably fly to New York City every day if he could."

Laszlo shrugged.

"And then there's me, the youngest of the bunch who would use a time machine to explore the past just because it was cool. Once again, my name is Wilbur Robinson, and I hope you all have a good night."

I paused, stopping my pacing and turning towards Laszlo and Carl.

"So, what do you think?" I asked.

Laszlo and Carl gazed at each other.

"Let's keep working on it," Laszlo suggested.

I rolled my eyes as Carl took out pieces of paper from his torso and started to write down ideas.


North Hampton, New York, USA

DONATELLO'S POV

After a long day of video-taping my lessons for Todayland University, driving down to the lair and going on patrol with my family, and driving back home, I finally took off my lab coat and bo staff and got into bed with my wife, who was reading a book from her iPad.

"I'm so glad to be done with today," I told her, bundling myself up in the blankets.

"But it was a successful day," April replied. "Lily's had a good first two days back to school, you got everything done that you needed to get done, I had a good day at work, and we got the house cleaned up."

"And now we're finally in bed together again," I finished with a big smile on my face. "Just the two of us."

"It's been the two of us, silly. Lily hasn't slept with us since she was a baby."

I laughed as I heard piano music starting to play.

"That's pretty," I told her. "What song is it?"

"I don't know," April answered, her eyes not leaving her iPad. "I'm not playing anything."

"Huh? Then where's the music coming from?"

"Maybe Lily's playing her music again."

"From an actual piano?"

"We have a piano?" April asked with a confused expression.

"Yes, April. Renet surprised us with a piano for our 20th wedding anniversary. Do you not play the piano?"

"Donnie, I've been so busy I've hardly had time to play the piano."

"Well, Lily's learned how to play and she's pretty good, even with only having three fingers on each hand."

I smiled.

"Let's go downstairs and see what she's playing."

"Nah, you go down and be proud of your daughter," April replied. "I'm really enjoying this book."

"I'll ask about that when I get back, Lily's mother."

April stuck her tongue out at me, and I stuck mine out. I left the bedroom and went down the stairs to the hall. I snuck around to the living room where I found Lily playing the piano flawlessly.

"Liar, liar, don't cry on my shoulder," she sang softly. "You played with fire and smiled when you told her. Oh, oh, thought you were someone. Oh, oh, goodbye to no one."

I smiled, admiring her voice. But I remembered the reason why I came downstairs.

"Hey, Lily Mae."

"Hi, Dad!" Lily replied, continuing to play the piano. "What's up?"

"Do you know what time it is?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips.

"Midnight. Why?"

"Do you have to play now? Mom and I are trying to go to sleep after a long day."

"I'm sorry, Dad, but this is the only time I have to practice."

"Can't you practice at school?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "And what are you practicing for anyway?"

"There's going to be a talent show in Todayland," Lily explained. "I'm practicing for my audition on Monday and I'll be playing and singing this song. I have to come up with a shorter version of this song, and I think I know how."

"That's great, Lily Mae. It really is. But it's time for bed."

"Let me finish this song first."

"NO."

Lily stopped playing and turned to look at me with an annoyed expression.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously," I answered in a tone just as annoying as her expression. "I'm not going to tell you again, Lilianna Mae. Go to bed. If you want to practice when you wake up, you may. Mom and I may find that pleasant, actually."

My red-haired daughter let out a sigh of defeat.

"Yes, sir."

Lily walked out of the living room and up the stairs.

"I love you!" I said loudly.

To my sadness, Lily did not reply. I let out a sad sigh before I walked up the stairs and back into the bedroom.

"D, are you alright?" April asked, noticing my sad expression.

"Yeah, yeah. Just peachy."

"Donnie, you're a terrible liar. What's wrong?"

"I think it's Lily being a teenager, but when I told her to go to bed, she told me to let her finish her song first. When I told her no, she just looked at me like she was annoyed with me."

"Yeah, that's her being a teenager," April replied. "But I feel that something else is bothering you."

"When I told her I loved her, she didn't say anything."

"That's also her being a teenager. Donnie, Lily's learning her identity, who she is. Sometimes, we need to give her that."

"But we also need to discipline her, April," I replied. "We were trying to sleep when she was playing the piano."

"You mean you were trying to sleep? I was just sitting here reading a good book."

"Very funny, April. I'm just saying, she cannot play while we're trying to go to sleep. It will disrupt REM sleep."

"Oh, Donnie."

I felt April's soft hand on my cheek. I turned and looked into her beautiful blue eyes.

"Please relax. Lily's in bed now. Let's try to sleep, okay?"

We kissed each other good night, turned out the lights, and prepared ourselves to fall into slumber for at least a few hours.


January 9, 2040 – Todayland, North Montana, USA

LILIANNA'S POV

"And then there's me, the youngest of the bunch who used to drive a time machine into the past to explore the glory of history. Have a good evening, everyone!"

Everyone clapped in the auditorium as Wilbur finished his skit about his family.

"Next up is Karena Edwards, a junior at Todayland University," Cornelius announced.

Wilbur sat back down next to me as Karena made her way up to the stage and to the piano. She played one chord, and she started to sing.

"I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me. And I enjoy an accolade, like the rest. And you can take my picture and hang it in a gallery of all the Who's Who's and So-and-So's that used to be the best at such-and-such. It wouldn't matter much."

Karena then started to play the piano flawlessly before she continued to sing.

"I won't lie, it feels all right to see your name in lights. We all need an 'atta-boy' or 'atta-girl.' But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides the temporary trappings of this world. I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering, a child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy."

Karena played the piano for a little while longer before finishing her shortened version out.

"I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me."

Everyone clapped again, and the applause was just a tad louder than Wilbur's skit. Karena walked off the stage and sat back down next to us.

"Next is Lilianna Hamato, a sophomore at Todayland High School," Cornelius announced.

I let out a breath I had been holding since Karena finished her song. I made my way onto the stage and to the piano to take a seat. I took one more deep breath and let it out before playing the first chords of the song. When the time came, I took a breath and started to sing softly.

"Can't see you anymore, you're in and shut the door. Didn't know what I do know now. With words I've been betrayed. You respond and let them fade. And I just won't let you bring me down. You can see what I know, and I know somewhere there's a sorry heart."

I took another breath, preparing to hit a high note through my head.

"Tell me why these roads keep leading, leading you right back. Liar, liar, don't cry on my shoulder. You played with fire and smiled when you told her. Oh, oh, thought you were someone. Oh, oh, goodbye to no one."

I took another breath before singing the bridge with my high notes.

"I don't need to know you'll be there. You're not on my mind. I don't need to know you care. Please don't waste my time."

I vocalized before singing the chorus softly.

"Liar, liar, don't cry on my shoulder."

I took another breath, preparing to belt out the last of the song.

"You played with fire and smiled when you told her! Liar, liar, don't cry on my shoulder! You played with fire and smiled when you told her. Oh, oh, thought you were someone. Oh, oh, goodbye to no one."

I prepared myself one more time to hit the high notes.

"Oh, oh, thought you were someone. Oh, oh, goodbye to no one."

I stopped playing the piano just before I stopped singing, and I was met with wild applause. I laughed at the reaction, not believing I had performed to the point where I was met with such a reaction. I walked off the stage and sat back down next to Wilbur and Karena.

"I think you just became part of the talent show," Wilbur told me.

"I think I've got some competition," Karena replied. "You were amazing up there. I can't even hit those notes."

"How are you feeling, Lily?" Wilbur asked.

"Exhilarated! I'm happy the audition is over. Of course now, we have to be nervous to see if we made it."

"Lily, trust me, you made it. With that kind of applause? They clearly want to see more of you. What song is that, by the way?"

I gave my best friend a smirk.

"Nice try, Wilbur. Do whatever you want to do to me. I still won't give it away until the night of the talent show."

"Could you tell us the artist at least?" Karena asked. "Unless you made it yourself, that is."

I laughed.

"I wish I was that talented. The artist is Christina Grimmie."

"Shut up!" Karena exclaimed. "You've heard of Christina Grimmie?"

I had forgotten Karena was born in 1995 and moved to the future, and I laughed at myself for it.

"She was an amazing woman."

"Was?" Karena asked in reply. "That's impossible. She should have been about Franny's age today."

"Christina was murdered at her concert while greeting fans in 2016."

"Oh my gosh," Wilbur and Karena said at the same time.

"I had no idea," Karena said with tears coming to her eyes.

"Well, you did move from 2013 to 2037," Wilbur replied. "Christina's death must have been one of the things you missed."

"I guess I had taken her for granted before the move. I guess you never really know what you have until it's gone."

"So, Lily, how have you heard of her?" Wilbur asked.

"I was just doing some browsing on YouTube when I found a cover of her and Sam Tsui singing Just a Dream... the first version, I mean. They did a re-imagined version years after Christina's death. I loved it so much, especially Christina's voice, that she and Rachael Lampa became inspirations for both my singing and my faith."

"That's funny," Karena replied. "Because that's how I discovered her. And it's actually very ironic. The first time I heard their version of Just a Dream was in a fanmade video of your parents in the show."

"My parents, really?" I asked with laughter.

"Yes! I guess your dad wasn't the only one who wanted to get together with your mom."

"Well, the events of the show really did happen here, Karena," I replied. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."

I paused.

"Does that show still exist?"

"Yes. You can still watch episodes of your family online."

"That kind of gives me an idea for later," I replied with a smile. "But no promises."

"What kind of idea is that?" Wilbur asked, paying no attention to the audition happening on stage.

"I could find clips of both my parents, make a slideshow, and sing a song that defines their relationship."

"Now that gives me an idea. Lily, could you meet me in the garage after dinner?"

"I can't, Wilbur. I've gotta train with my family."

Wilbur pondered for a moment.

"Come with me."

"Right now?!" I asked.

"Just trust me. I'll see you later, Karena!"

Karena waved at us as we left the high school auditorium and into Wilbur's flying car.

"What are we doing?" I asked. "Is this an emergency?"

"I want to give you a gift. Now tell me, of all the stories your parents have told you about their relationship, which one was your favorite?"

"An impossible question!"

I had to think long and hard. The story of how my dad fell in love with my mom at first sight was always one for the family to remember. But there were so many stories in between that time and the 27 years that had passed.

"I think... my favorite story was my parents' wedding."

"When did they get married?" Wilbur asked.

"Christmas Day, 2017. Why?"

"You'll see."

Wilbur drove us back to his home and he parked his car in the garage.

"Now, we're going to get in that bright blue car there," he told me.

I nodded my head and followed him. Wilbur started this car, got out of the garage, and we flew towards the sky!

"Wilbur, where are we going?" I asked nervously. "Are we going to space?"

"Nope! We're going... to the past!"


December 25, 2017 - North Hampton, New York, USA

After going through some sort of bubble, I suddenly found myself right back home... with Wilbur.

"Wilbur, is this... a time machine?" I asked.

"Yep! The second one my dad built successfully. Welcome to North Hampton, New York in 2017!"

"We should not be doing this, Wilbur," I warned him.

"Well, we're not getting out of the time machine. It's too cold outside for that. So, we are going to watch your parents get married with quite the view."

Wilbur parked the time machine at the side of the house, which looked quite old. Suddenly, curiosity hit me hard.

"Wilbur, open the hood. I've gotta see the house."

"Are you sure?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "If you touch anything, history will be changed."

"I'll be careful."

"Also, it would be best to not talk to your family. You weren't born yet."

"I understand."

Wilbur popped the hood, and I immediately hopped out. There was snow on the ground, but otherwise, it didn't feel too cold. First, I observed who all was present here, and I was very surprised at everything I remembered my dad talking about. There some mutants that were present for my parents' nuptials. I recognized the Mighty Mutanimals: Leatherhead, Slash, Dr. Rockwell, and Mondo Gecko, and Alopex, Pigeon Pete, and Ice Cream Kitty were also present. To my unexpected surprise, Bebop and Rocksteady were also guests at the wedding. I also recognized the humans among them. Jack Kurtzman, who had done research on the Kraang and assisted my family, was there taking pictures of the event. Casey Jones, sitting next to him, was the family friend who once had a crush on my mom, but remained good friends with her. I watched as he drew everything he was surrounded by. Lastly, I found Shinigami, Auntie Karai's best friend whom we saw once in a while in 2040 in the city. It was very clear that only a few people had known about the Turtles in 2017.

I decided to venture into the house that I would eventually live my childhood in. I groaned in disgust at how the house looked in this time period compared to how it looked in 2040 after my parents remodeled it. The bench in the hall was quite old and it sat back against yellow walls. Before I could explore the hall more, I heard a familiar voice upstairs.

"Raph, please tell me this is normal."

"This is normal," Uncle Raph had replied to my dad. "And that's the truth. No groom has ever NOT been nervous about their wedding day."

I ventured up the stairs.

"Maybe I should take the mask off-"

"NO!" my uncles had all shouted at my dad.

"What?"

"You have nothing to worry about, Donnie," I heard Uncle Leo say as I reached the top step.

I found myself going to the bedroom that would become my room, and I found my dad and my uncles getting ready for their wedding day. I had to hide in the closet next to the room so that no one would see me.

"April is one helluva woman," Uncle Raph said. "She'd be NUTS to not marry you."

I chuckled. He spoke the truth.

"You know what I'd be excited about?" Uncle Mikey, sounding quite young, asked. "Being called 'my husband' by April. I'd also be excited because you get to wear this amazing cloak!"

I opened the closet door slightly to watch Uncle Mikey put a beautiful white cloak on my dad. I let out a very small gasp when I noticed the Hamato Clan emblem etched onto the cloak. It was the most beautiful cloak I had ever seen.

"Mikey, this is beautiful," Dad, still sounding young but older at the same time, said while gazing at it in the mirror.

"Renet made it. April's going to be wearing one too. And your mask will match her crown."

I snuck out of the closet, now absolutely dying to see my mom in her wedding dress. I snuck down the stairs and into the living room. I hid behind the couch and watched my mother getting ready.

"All right, April, turn around slowly," I heard Auntie Mona encouraging her.

I let out a gasp as I looked at my mom, who was absolutely gorgeous. I watched the reactions of the other women in the room, and they were just as awestricken as I was.

"You are absolutely the most beautiful bride, April," Auntie Renet told her, wiping away a tear. "Are you ready?"

"I FEEL ready," my mom answered.

"We can't leave yet," Auntie Karai chimed in.

"Why not?"

"We have gifts for you," Auntie Mona answered.

"You already have your something old, April," Auntie Karai explained. "My mother's wedding ring, and now it'll be YOUR wedding ring. She would have loved you, April."

I wanted to cry at that. I never knew my grandmother, Tang Shen. But Auntie Karai was right. Just from the stories I had heard about her from my dad and my uncles, she would have loved all of us.

"Here is your something new," Auntie Renet said, putting an identical white cloak on my mom. "To keep you warm on your wedding day. I made it myself."

"Renet, it's beautiful-"

"Something borrowed," Auntie Mona said, giving my mom a bracelet. "I was part of an arranged marriage in my home planet and wore this in a betrothal ceremony. I kept it as a reminder to follow your heart instead of your duty. I would like it back after the ceremony. It's my reminder that Raphael will always be first."

"I certainly will return it," my mom replied.

"Now, close your eyes," Auntie Karai told her.

My mom closed her eyes, and I suddenly felt Shinigami's presence in the room. I watched as she used her magic to transform my mother's long hair into a braided bun and placed a white-and-purple floral crown on top of her head. I let out a small gasp. My mom was even more prettier than before.

"And here is your something blue," Shinigami told her. "Open your eyes."

My mom opened my eyes to see Shinigami standing there. I decided that it was my cue to leave the house and return to the time machine. Right when I got into the hall, my T-Phone went off! I winced, hiding in the nearby closet by the door.

"Donnie, no T-Phones on your wedding day!" Uncle Raphael playfully yelled at him.

"It wasn't mine, I swear!" Dad replied back.

"April, no T-Phones on your wedding day!" Uncle Raph teased my mom.

"Very funny, Raph!" Mom yelled back. "It's not mine, either!"

"Everyone, no T-Phones for the rest of the day!" Uncle Raph yelled once more.

I giggled. Once I felt that everyone had left the rooms upstairs and the living room, I snuck out the front door and back to the time machine.

"What kept you?" Wilbur asked me angrily.

"I just had to look at my parents before the ceremony," I explained. "And then my T-Phone went off and Uncle Raph was yelling at everyone to not use their phones."

"Smooth. Now look! The wedding's about to start."

I watched Uncle Mikey controlling the music and switched to a song I only knew too well: Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I saw my dad standing at the altar standing between Uncle Leo at the center and Uncle Raph to the right. Wilbur and I watched as Auntie Karai walked down the aisle wearing a red kimono and carryign a poinsettia bouquet. Auntie Mona walked behind her, carrying a red-and-white pillow with a ring entwined in it. Then came Auntie Renet, wearing a red-and-white cloak, and Wilbur and I both laughed out loud. She was skipping down the aisle throwing down red rose petals.

Uncle Mikey changed the song again, and he played my very favorite Christmas song: Lindsey Sterling's Carol of the Bells. I watched my mom gliding down the aisle with Grandpa O'Neil right behind her. I could not help but watch my dad, however. He had dropped his jaw right when he saw my mom. When the song changed its tone, my dad closed his mouth and carried the kindest smile he could ever share. It was the same smile he would carry when I would eventually be born. Once my mom reached the altar, Wilbur and I watched with smiles on our faces as Uncle Leo officiated the ceremony. There was a moment of silence to honor Grandpa Splinter, and then he asked my parents to recite their own vows to each other. My parents were eventually proclaimed as husband and wife, and they shared their first kiss. After shedding a few tears, Wilbur started the time machine.


May 29, 2024 - North Hampton, New York, USA

"Now where are we?" I asked.

I heard screaming.

"Wilbur, someone's in trouble!" I yelled.

"Relax, Lily, your mom is fine," he replied nonchalantly. "I figured you'd want to see your birth."

"Huh?"

Wilbur parked the time machine in the middle of a tree with quite the view of the bathroom.

"Wilbur, where did you take us this time?" I asked.

"May 29, 2024. Your birth day."

I watched my dad carrying my mom into the tub, and I noticed in the blink of an eye that my mom was heavily pregnant. In the midst of my mom screaming in pain, my dad eventually got into the tub with her. Then both my parents looked out the window straight at us.

"Wilbur!" I yelled.

"Relax, Lily, they can't see us," Wilbur replied. "They're looking at the sky. Dawn is upon us."

"That's right. My mom told me that I was born right at dawn."

"DONNIE!" Mom screamed, and I could hear her pants. "Oh, Donnie, I think my body is pushing this baby out!"

Wilbur and I continued to watch as my mom started to push with my dad encouraging her.

"DONNIE, IT BURNS!"

"Well, now I know what to expect if I ever get pregnant," I spoke out loud.

"The head's coming and crowning!" Dad shouted over Mom's screaming. "Just breathe."

"I'm having a baby and you want me to BREATHE?!" Mom yelled.

Wilbur laughed right next to me.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Remind me to not have a baby," Wilbur replied. "I'm not sure I could handle Karena being in that much pain."

"You know they have painkillers for this kind of thing, right?" I asked. "But anyway, I remember my mom telling me that giving birth to me was one of the best days of her life. Childbirth will never not be painful, but the pain to bring your child into the world is worth it."

"April! April you're hurting me!"

Wilbur and I turned to see my mom grabbing my dad by his cheeks and squeezing them.

"Oof!" we exclaimed at the same time.

"That's gotta hurt," Wilbur said.

I continued to watch as my dad smiled fondly at my mom and encouraged her. The smile went away quickly as my mom screamed, telling him that it was time to get back to business. My mom pushed, but then she screamed again.

"DONNIE!"

"You're doing good, April," Dad encouraged her. "Keep going!"

Wilbur and I continued to watch. I felt my mom screaming and crying at the same time as she struggled to deliver me. Suddenly, the lights flickered on and off as the sun rose behind us. My mom let out one last scream as the lights stayed off for good. I watched my dad crying and smiling at the same time when he delivered me from out of the water and handed me to my mom. After a few tender moments, I heard myself crying, and I started to cry myself.

"Welcome to the world, Lilianna Mae," I heard my dad say.

"Let's go home," Wilbur suggested with a smile.


January 8, 2040 - North Hampton, New York, USA

APRIL'S POV

I was riding in the backseat while Donnie was teaching our daughter how to drive in the winter. The ride had been smooth so far, thanks to the New York Department of Transportation taking care of the roads for us.

"Mom, Dad, may I talk to you both about something?" Lily asked.

"Yes, you may," Donnie answered. "As long as you continue to keep your eyes on the road."

"I will, Dad."

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked with a smile on my face.

"I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of me after all this time. I have a better understanding of you both now."

Donnie and I exchanged glances at each other.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

Lily let out a sigh.

"Wilbur took me in a time machine, and we went back to the day you two got married and the day I was born."

"You went time-travelling?" Donnie asked. "Lily, do you have any idea what the complications for time-travelling are?"

"Yes, Wilbur made them very clear. He told me to not to touch anything and to not speak to anyone. Although, when we travelled to my birth day, we never left the time machine."

"Did you touch something, Lily?" I sternly asked her.

"No! The only mistake I made was not putting my T-Phone on silent. It went off when you both were getting ready for the wedding."

"Thankfully, I don't remember a cell phone going off," Donnie replied.

"Me neither," I said.

"But you need to be more careful, Lilianna Mae," Donnie told her sternly. "If you were to make even the tiniest mistake, you can change history, and it's hard to put the timelines back to normal."

"Wilbur made that very clear too," Lily replied just as sternly. "I admit, I was scared. But when I saw the house in 2017, I had to know what it looked like. It looked totally different than it does now. And getting a glimpse of both of you getting married was something I never thought I'd see with my own eyes. It's the same with my birth story. I just... wanted to talk to you both about this because I trust you."

Donnie and I shared another glance.

"Thank you for trusting us, Lily," I told her.

"Just promise me you'll never travel back in time again," Donnie said. "I imagine you know how I feel about that."

"Yes, Dad, I do. Mom, have you ever traveled back in time before?"

I pondered.

"Actually, no. I haven't."

"Yes, you have!" Donnie replied back. "Remember the day we met Wilbur for the first time with Karena? We were just teenagers at the time. Mikey was kidnapped and ended up being separated from us. He ended up in Todayland, and we had to go there to get him."

"Oh, right! I remember now. But I think it was more like dimension-jumping instead of time-traveling."

"But now, April, our worlds merged together, so this is now considered time-traveling."

"Anyway!" Lily said. "Which day was the better day for you both: your wedding day or my birth day?"

"That is an impossible question," I answered. "I'm going to have to say our wedding day. If Dad and I didn't marry, you wouldn't be here."

"On the other hand, your birth day was the best day of my life," Donnie answered. "You gave me even more hope for my future because I know I'll leave some kind of legacy when I'm gone. It's the kind of legacy that will be purely remembered from generation to generation."

"It's funny you mentioned that, because Karena sang a song about a legacy at the auditions," Lily replied. "I wonder if she's going to be on the talent show. She's really good."

"What did Wilbur do?" I asked.

"He tried a comedy skit."

"Comedy?" Donnie laughed.

"It was pretty much a story about his family," Lily explained. "There were some good jokes in there, but Wilbur's got a long way to go."

"When do you find out if you made it?" I asked.

"Tomorrow."


January 9, 2040 - Todayland, North Montana, USA

WILBUR'S POV

Lily and I hung out in the cafeteria after cheerleading and color guard practice and caught up with each other on our weekend. At some point that morning, a student had come in and put up another poster.

"I wonder what's going on now?" I asked.

"Let's wait and see," Lily replied.

We waited a few more minutes, and then the student left.

"Lily, it's about the talent show!" I exclaimed.

"Let's go look!"

We shot up out of our seats and ran to the poster.

"Thank you to all who have tried our for our first annual talent show. The decision was very hard to make because all of you did such an amazing job. Below is the schedule for the talent show, taking place on March 10, 2040 at 3:00 PM. Congratulations to all who have made the cut, and we will see you in the Todayland University auditorium at 2:00 PM."

"This is it!" I said excitedly. "And look at this: Karena's the opening act."

"Wow, there's a lot of high schoolers and college students participating in this," Lily said.

We continued to skim through the list until we reached the middle.

"I made it!" Lily yelled excitedly.

"I told you so!" I replied with enthusiasm. "Now am I on the list?"

We finished the skimming the list. I did not make the cut.

"Well, all we can do is keep moving forward, right?" I asked with a smile on my face.

"You're okay with not making the cut?" Lily asked with surprise in her voice. "You've always been the confident one."

"Yeah, it's cool. I can't do it all. And apparently I can't do comedy very well."

"Hey, if it helps you out, you do have a good sense of humor," Lily told me with a smile. "And you are amazing at telling stories. Maybe you can be a teacher or something one of these days."

"Yeah, no."

She blinked.

"Why?"

"My grandpa was a science teacher," I explained. "And my mom is part of the next generation of teachers."

"Your mom teaches? Where?"

"Home. But she was a music teacher until I was born, after I was born, she just dropped her job altogether and stayed home to take care of me. I don't want to be the part of the next generation."

"Wilbur, believe it or not, being a teacher is a very noble thing. My dad's a teacher. It wasn't the plan at first for him, but your dad was the one who convinced mine to teach college students. And it turned out that it was the perfect fit for my dad. He absolutely loved teaching like-minded students around his age how biology and physics work, and he also enjoyed listening to himself talk, like you do sometimes. Over twenty years later, my dad still loves his job. I don't think he ever wants to retire."

"Karena's been looking up to your dad ever since he became her teacher," I replied, putting my right hand on my chin. "Maybe he can give me some advice. I have no clue what I want to do after college."

"So go talk to my dad!" Lily encouraged me. "In fact, Uncle Leo wants to teach you tonight, so maybe you can ask my dad then."

The first warning bell rang.

"I guess that's our cue to go to class," Lily said.

"Yeah. I'll see you at lunch, Lily."

"See ya!"

Lily and I went out of the cafeteria and went on our own ways to our lockers to put our belongings away before going to our first classes.


New York City, New York, USA

ATHENA'S POV

"How's that dough coming, Athena?"

"I'm just about to knead it, Dad," I replied.

"Perfecto!"

I flattened out the dough to make the pizza crust, and then my dad poured the precise amount of sauce on top of it.

"Alright, Athena, now let's see what your creative juices can come up with!"

First, I put a layer of the taco blend cheese on top of the sauce. Then I put all of the toppings that I would enjoy on a taco: leaf lettuce, tomatoes, diced onions, diced green peppers, and corn chips. I put the finished product in the oven.

"A taco pizza, huh?" Dad asked with a smile. "Interesting choice."

"I was in the mood for tacos," I replied with a smile.

"Why don't you go ahead and do some homework or train with Uncle Leo and Wilbur?" Dad suggested. "I'll finish the pizza."

I smiled. I gave my dad a hug, and he returned it, kissing me on the top of my head. Then, I walked out of the kitchen. I was greeted with the beautiful sounds of a piano... or perhaps it was a keyboard, as I did not remember my family ever owning a piano in the lair. Realizing that it was coming from Uncle Donnie's lab, I walked towards the lab and listened to the music. Then I heard singing. I peeked in and saw my oldest cousin Lilianna softly singing her heart out while playing the keyboards. I had always enjoyed listening to her sing ever since we were little kids. I enjoyed it so much she had inspired me to learn to sing and I had secretly sang the harmony in whatever songs she was singing. I was the most amused in that she had never noticed I was singing with her, because I had blended in perfectly with the songs she was playing on her T-Pod. Suddenly, she belted out.

"I don't need to know you'll be there," Lily sang boldly. "You're not on my mind. I don't need to know you care. Please don't waste my time."

She vocalized, bringing the volume back down to a soft tone for a brief moment.

"Liar, liar, don't cry on my shoulder. You played with fire and smiled when you told her!"

She played louder again, and I couldn't help myself to sing with her.

"Liar, liar, don't cry on my shoulder," we sang together, unbeknownst to Lily. "You played with fire and smiled when you told her. Oh, oh."

"Thought you were someone," Lily sang.

"Oh, oh," we sang in harmony.

"Goodbye to no one!"

"Oh, oh."

"Thought you were someone!"

"Oh, oh!"

"Goodbye to no one."

Lily suddenly stopped playing and sharply turned towards me. I couldn't help but clap and put my hands on my blonde braided crown.

"I heard you singing while I was cooking," I told my cousin. "You have a gift. Which parent did you inherit it from?"

"Both, I guess?" Lily answered with a chuckle. "My dad was the one who sang me to sleep every night. My mom would only sing in the shower, and boy, can she belt it out!"

"So you have the softness of your father and the power of your mother to create one amazing voice."

"Thanks!"

We both laughed merrily.

"What song were you singing?" I asked, putting one hand on my hip.

"You mean what song we were singing?" Lily replied, correcting me. "Yes, I heard you. You're pretty good yourself. There's a talent show at Todayland University to raise funds for the families who lost a member to the parasitica epidemic. I'm singing Christina Grimmie's Liar Liar."

"And if you win?"

"It's no big. I want to help, so I'm lending my voice."

I smiled fondly at her. Lily was always selfless.

"You've already done so much for the city," I told her. "How did Todayland get so lucky to have you?"

"None of this was planned, that's for sure."

"No, but it wasn't our planning."

I leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"It was God's."

Lily's happy expression turned into one of shock.

"How did you know about my beliefs? Who found out?"

"Lily, relax," I assured her. "I've heard you sing all those times, all these years. I have a hint of where your beliefs lie, and it's not with the Shinto religion. You're always happy when you sing, and God is always a part of those songs. As a kunoichi, we're supposed to live in harmony, and that's why I didn't say anything to Uncle Leo."

Lily blew a sigh of relief.

"If you weren't my cousin, I'd say thank you for being a true friend."

"You can, and you're welcome."

We hugged each other.

"My dad's always been scared that Uncle Leo or Uncle Raph would make fun of him to the point of kicking him out of the clan for his beliefs," Lily explained, playing with her long red hair. "He's always called me his miracle from heaven. He's always praised God for it. And he's always praised God for saving the three of you during childbirth. I remember my dad being so terrified that Auntie Karai and Ryan were going to die that he was asking for a miracle."

"It all makes sense now," I said with a breathe of awe.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked, giving me a confused look.

I chuckled.

"My dad would tell me your dad would always boast about how smart he is compared to him, Uncle Raph, and Uncle Leo. But that changed after you were born. I can't really back my dad up, though. I mean, the entire time I've known your dad, he's been the kindest uncle. Sure, he'll have a temper once in a while like Uncle Raph, but he's always looking forward to sharing a piece of his knowledge with us. He never boasted about how smart he is when I'm around. In fact, he was proud of everything he had accomplished and wouldn't change anything in the world. He's even shown me all of his experiments!"

"That sounds like my dad," Lily replied. "Thank you for this."

"I promise to keep your secret. Now, do you need help for the talent show? I'd love to help in any way I can."

"Well, I was originally just going to perform this song with the piano, but you sang the harmony perfectly. Maybe we can make this work, have you sing in the background or something."

"Sure! Just tell me what I need to do."

"Maybe you should download the song on your T-Pod," Lily suggested, showing her gap-toothed grin.

"Liar, Liar, right?"

Lily nodded, and it did not take me too long to find the correct song. I listened through the song once, and I was amazed at her vocal range.

"I think you got me hooked on her," I told my cousin.

"She's amazing, isn't she? Rachael Lampa is great. But Christina Grimmie gives me a challenge. I had to audition for the talent show last week and found out today I made the cut."

"Well, shall we practice?" I asked with a smile.

"Why don't I guide you on when to sing and how to sing?" Lily suggested.

"Do what you need to do, cousin."

Lily started playing the piano softly, and then she started to sing with her angelic voice.